This is your brain on….Binaural Beats

If you play 2 sound waves that are very close in frequency (but not quite exactly the same), you’ll get a phenomenon that causes beat frequencies between the 2 sound waves. As it turns out, if you play these 2 frequencies separately into your 2 different ears, your brain tries to resolve the difference between the 2 frequencies and “hears” the beat frequency even though it isn’t there.

Binaural Beats

The interesting thing is that these perceived beat frequencies cause your brain to do some strange things. The imaginary beat frequency manages to somehow force your brain to start taking on the frequency of the beat frequency (I guess based on some sort of resonance or interference concept) and people are using this idea to actually modify their mood and mental state.

Some say that it works so well that you can recreate the effects of meditation, happiness, and even the effects of certain drugs, all without leaving the comfort of your own headphones.

There are a couple of companies that sell the software and the files for it (usually for about $5 apiece), but I’ve found a free version.

Free Binaural Beats

There is an open source piece of software called SbaGen that you can download that will play the binaural files through headphones and it comes with a number of presets. If you look around, you’ll find a number of sites where you can download other presets as well. OK so you’re too lazy to use the Google, so this one will get you started. There are also a ton of them here .

You can also direct download a sample: ogg binaural file (playable on Chrome browser).

Here’s a site with an embedded player. They even have a forum for binaural beat enthusiasts here – they have more files for download here.

Note: you HAVE to use headphones for bianural beats to work, preferably good quality headphones.

Descriptive Sound Files

The names of some of the files are very compelling out there. Check them out:

Astral Projection

Healing System

Meditation

Chakra Stimulation

Delta

Lucid Dreaming

Become Psychic

Remote Viewing

Clairvoyance

Improve Memory

Cosmic Ordering

Telepathy

Control Stress

Speed Learning

Cure Insomnia

Deep Meditation

Chi Generator

Precognition

Increase Energy

Do Binaural Beats Work?

So, the 10 million dollar question: Does it work? Well, I’ve tried a “meditation” preset and a “coffee break” preset and I have to say, I was stunned. It worked surprisingly well for me. It’s very interesting because at first you just hear these tones, and after a while (if you relax), they start to disappear and you slip into what I can only describe as a very “open” state where you just let the tones sort of take control.

Of course the blogosphere is abuzz with people who think it’s bunk (especially because the companies who sell these files make such extravagant claims), but I have to say that I’m convinced – it definitely altered my mood and state, and even lasted for the rest of the day.

Maybe next time I want to take a break, I’ll slip on my headphones and drop some binaural beats !

58 AWESOME COMMENTS

this is scientific, backed up by years of research, so anyone that says it’s bunk is just ignorant. going way back the CIA experimented with this hoping to find a ‘truth-serum’ to be used during interrogation. a friend (now deceased) of mine in military intelligence worked on the project. robert monroe (also deceased) (the monroe institute) was in early on this research too. he later founded a center to help people have ‘out-of-body’ experiences, and hence i think the haters started in on this science from that perhaps. but yes, as in the science of physics waves – using these tuned properly can give you an alpha state, beta state, etc. I’ve been using it for 30 years to quell migraines.

If one has read Jill Bolte Taylor ‘s book “A Stroke of Insight” or seen it on TED, they remember that she lost the use of her left brain due to a blood clot. She accessed a sense of connection to everything that was joyous. Could it be that binaurals confuse the left brain so that the right brain is not “drowned out” so completely? The right brain is the “separation” and “word” side that meditation attempts to quiet .

I’ve use the lucid dreaming and it worked both times it was tried. I had no expectations as to how it might work and just gave it a try.
I was shocked when I had a dream the first night, I don’t usually remember my dreams. The meditation program also seems to work well.
My moods have been good lately. I just know it seems to have an effect on me.

I have started using binaural beats a while ago, because (like you mentioned) it can give you effects as dr.ugs without leaving the comfort of your headsets.
Honestly, if you’re looking for anything that you listed above, this is the way to do it.
I used to use youtube, and free programs but I decided to try I Doser from the reviews, almost all were 5 stars! And I am so glad I invested into it. It’s way better, and more effective than what I was using before (and I thought before was great!)
I recomend trying it all out! (:

I myself changed my life a lot by meditating with binaural beats. Had a major depression and a lot of anxiety, and turned it around by meditating twice a day with binaural beats. I know it does work. Some are better than others though.

As I benefited in a major way myself, I’ve started to write about binaural beats and related subjects at binauralbeatsblogger.blogspot.com

These binaural beats most definitely work for me. Maybe not as good as all these people claim they do but they are affective. I usually use them before I go to bed and also whenever I’m wanting to study for something very important.

I know they don’t work for everyone but I they have helped me in many ways and so I’m a believer.

The brain is a fascinating piece of kit and to be honest I believe the more we find out about its potential the more questions arise.

As for my own view I have a hunch that the brain receives frequency in and projects frequency out. Yep… it could be a frequency generator! Then if we look at some of what we know with regards similar frequencies attract like frequencies and maybe thats the key to bringing into our lives what we think about most of the time? We send a thought/frequency out, it gathers more of the same and low and behold within time we start to manifest our reality?

Every sound we hear creates a change within us because we have heard it, its a different frequency and frequency impacts upon us whether we like it or not, irritating or calming.

So can bi-neurals or music work to bring about positive change? Guess it all depends on what frequencies we are subjecting ourselves to…. You can certainly exercise the brain hemispheres by hearing different tones in each ear as the brain runs around trying to detect what is happening within itself. You can also drop the brainwaves down from an excited Beta to Alpha/theta and maybe even delta which would help relax the listener. So brain crossover whilst in a relaxed state may be useful especially if you wish to recall what takes place in a deep relaxed state.

However, its wise to note that everything in existence vibrates/has a frequency then what are the specific frequencies we are listening to? Dopamine has a frequency seratonin also has a frequency how is this calculated? because arsenic also has a frequency.

Now taking this a step further, everyone is made up of a mass of frequency and when you speak that frequency is projected out in your voice and can be recorded. Through the recording we can determine what frequencies you hold within your system relating to the musical scale C C”D etc. If you have very little of the frequencies of C then you would listen to music/tone etc in the note of C to bring balance back into your system.

Being that as a population we appear to be somewhat out of balance then its worth a thought hey.

You have to find the right ones. I’ve found almost all that I listen to was created by someone who didn’t know what they were doing and they are very annoying. There are many out there that are very relaxing though if they were created right.

And here I thought I was already calm. This is interesting enough that i’ll look into further but a few things come to mind right off- does knowing the title affect listener experience? Would people drawn to an audiophile website be more/less critical/open to the experience than the tone deaf masses? And lastly, speaking only for the calming effect, would simply sitting still and focusing or heck- just sitting still I guess, do the same thing? Sad that I don’t already know that answer myself but I can’t think of the last time I actually just sat quietly and listened like that. I’m going to look for answers in the links other readers suggested- thank you.

Really, I’d say that the best way to find binaural beats/tones it to create them in Audacity or some other audio editing program. That’s what I do, and I love it! By making them myself, I can even ‘tune’ them to music and play them together.
It’s not too hard to do. Just have the program generate a tone, set it to the left ear, and make one 10hz up or down in the other. Voila! Instant binnaural tones, custom-tuned for any occasion. ;D

And just think, all this thanks to some ground breaking research by Doctor Gerald Oster in 1973! If you want a really high power binaural beats audio, 10 minutes worth, get this free sample ennora.com/sample.php

Headaches happen first but only if you are new to these beats. After you get used to it there is nothing you can’t accomplish. You have to keep the volume at a comfortable level. So you don’t overwhelm your brain. I always make sure you are completely relaxed too or the beats will just drive you to hate them.

Binaurals arent actually anything to do with hearing or listening. You neither have to hear nor listen for the beat to function. The two opposing frequencies are beyond your hearing range, all you receive is the beat where they impact, and this is in your mind not your ear.
Do they work? Depends on what you mean….some files have wild claims. Can they give you a mind bending experience? Yes, most certainly. Ive been experimenting with them for sometimes, mostly for relaxation, deep meditiation and focus, for which alpha-theta mixes have been very good. In the right environment they do very much take your mind into the required phase. I also tried one, I believe it was an I-dose although I cant recall, which really bent my head out of shape like some kamikazee drug. The effect stopped and cleared after the file finished but theres no disputing the power of its impact on my mind during the track.
Like everything these are aids, or props, the importance really is the training of the mind, not dependance, but they can be very very useful to clam and clear the mind in a short period of time when you are worn and tired and need to sharpen up fast. Id recommend people trying them, the experience is worthwhile…just dont go in expecting t chat with god, dane with pink elephants and fly to distant universes.

As a paranormal investigator, I stumbled across the Schumann frequency whilst studying enhanced consciousnesses and meditation. Initially through a TENS device, I thought I’d see if there were other techniques. Then I came across binaural beats and it is amazing!

They really alter your state and some of the ones that induce weird feelings are exhilarating to experience. Not quite got an OOBE out of one yet, but I enjoy using them to relax!

I know listen to this on youtube it takes out Brainwashing from the illuminati which is one that controls and are very evil here you FYN FYN Hare Krishna listen to the whole thing cleanse yourselves people and have a nice day 😀

Im actually really nervous about things that “alter your thinking process”. Binaural beats and silent sound were used to disarm thousands of soldiers in 1991 in Iraq. linked with a message brain washing and mind control are beyond an infinite possibility….. Its scary how a sound can make u do things against your own will…

Works phenomenally well for manifesting desires. What’s amazing is that the ONLY limitations to what can be manifested is the limitations you put on your self. The reason it works so well is because the universe is a matrix, which means it works on the principles of reflecting a state of being. In other words, being a matrix, it will ‘mirror’ (not attract)whatever a person can conceive and believe. Simply put, it makes dreams come true IF you believe in YOURSELF. If that’s an issue, try self esteem guided meditation CDs first. You will be amazed at the results. 😉
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As much as I hate to be negative, much of what Tony Arnold said is bull honkey.

However, if you’re looking for an out of body experience then bianural beats does look to be the way to go, a combination of confirmation bias and the placebo tend to produce the effects you want under entrainment.

I have been studying and enjoying composing with beating/phase relationships for many years. The binaural phenomenon is a psychoacoustic phenomenon, but not one that is any more relaxing for your mind than simply just listening to sine waves for 10 minutes. If we all just take 10 minutes and actually breathe or listen very intently to a sound (any sound, for example, a bird outside) we will feel emotionally cleansed. The fact that folks are finally stopping to listen to their environment is more important than pretending that a fantastic psychoacoustic phenomenon is transforming their emotional well-being. In any case, congratulations all on finding inner peace, and check out some of the wonderful music of phase and beating out there, it’s been around for a long long time.

Actually, listening to a single sine wave isn’t the same as listening to a binaural tone (or any other valid form of entrainment audio). It has been proven in laboratory studies that the brain begins to produce the same frequency as the binaural, accompanied by certain often predictable side effects related to the brain wave frequency being produced. The one listening to the tone does not need to focus on it as one would in meditation. They need only relax (for maximum results). This technology can create the same states of mind as decades of meditation. I encourage you to dig in to the research out there; it’s much more reliable than an opinion.

This is interesting. Will they be playing this in elevators, or in the waiting room of the dentist office, or airplanes before takeoff. How cool would that be?! I would like that if it could remove all the anxiety I have before going back to face that horrible sound of the dentist’s drill. Ick. I think they need more research on this.

If you play 2 sound waves that are very close in frequency (but not quite exactly the same), you’ll get a phenomenon that causes beat frequencies between the 2 sound waves. As it turns out, if you play these 2 frequencies separately into your 2 diff…